Make Monday: Prepping for the Super Bowl

Having a party on Sunday? Here's a few tips to having a great party that will make your guests come back, year after year.

Be sure to have enough food. Yes, it is about the game (and commercials) but it's also about the food. You can have the traditional wings, dips and potato skins, but you can also make it a theme. I'm going to attempt to make Pierogis and Wisconsin Cheese Soup in honor of the two teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. Just make sure you make enough!!

You can find inexpensive decorations at your local dollar store or, if you're a planner, on clearance the year before. Paper football field plates, plenty of forks and fun football decorations will create a sporty atmosphere that will get everyone amped up for the game.




Games to play at your party:


The can't say "football" game. At the beginning of halftime, give your guests two small paper footballs to stick onto their chests with double-sided tape. This is also a good project if you've got a preschooler who needs to work on his cutting paper skills. Let him cut the footballs out, after you've traced them. Tell everyone they're not allowed to say the word "football" while in conversation during halftime. If a guest hears someone use the word, they can take the football from the one who said it. The person who collects the most footballs before the beginning of the third quarter is the game winner.

Commercial fans? 

The commercials shown during the Super Bowl are often as exciting as the game itself.  Make a game out of it by ranking the commercials from greatest to lamest. Even guests who aren't football fans will have fun!

1. Give everyone a sheet of paper and a pen.
2. As commercials come on, make a note of the ones that stand out, whether they're good or bad. If they're funny or not.
3. After the game, add up which commercials got the best and worst votes. Everyone has to tell why they gave a thumbs up or thumbs down--or a ranking from 1-10. You may be surprised at how funny and loud the debate will get!

Guess the score

Before the game, have everyone write down what they think the score will be each quarter. At the end of every quarter, compare scores. Have a "gift" (we use a football necklace) for the winner to wear each quarter. At the end of the game, who ever has guessed the score closest to the actual score gets to take home the necklace. Make sure they bring it back next year. The "floating" necklace trophy has been a fun tradition of ours for years!

 With just a little bit of planning, you can make this Superbowl a game to remember!!

Salvation Sunday: What is really Important!

You remember the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is to be expected, "one bite at a time." This saying is true to our lives and the reality of our influence.

Sometimes as moms our lives fill up with everyday life, that from a distance we watch the world pass us by as other people pursue their dreams, have a hand to lend to a cause, solve the worlds problems, and much more. I often wonder how can I be of lasting influence to the world around me, when I have neither the time or means.

Then I stop to remember...to reach the world around you, you start with the person next to you, one person at a time, as you would "eat an elephant."

The people closest to me are my husband and my son. I am influencing the world more than I know by starting with these. The only legacy that will last are the people I leave behind.

This makes the monotony and sacrifice of motherhood worth all the fuss. So the next time I am changing dirty diapers, chasing a grumpy toddler, or cleaning the house, I need to remind myself of the ministry to my family. On those days, I think myself crazy for having a kid or getting married, I must focus on my circle of my influence. Then when I start feeling dissatisfied with my work, feeling unappreciated or unimportant, I need to ask God to renew my spirit and strength in light of my purpose on earth.

When at last my son wraps his hands around my neck in a hug, my heart is rewarded. The investment I put forth in the lives of my son and my husband far outweighs being a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, owning lots of material possessions and properties, and accessing power.

In turn, start to see the fruit of your labor go beyond your husband and son as they reach the world around them with the same attitude. You will also influence the world at the same time you reach out to your family. The values you teach, the morals you practice, and the memories you make will outlive your legacy.

Don't waste this precious gift..."But my live is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus...the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." Acts 20:24

Shuffle Saturday: Free Pizza for the Big Game!

Having a Big Party for the Big Game? If you order pizza, try Papa John's Pizza. They are the official sponsors of the big game and have some really great deals. ALL Large pizzas, up to 7 toppings (including speciality) are only $10 a piece.

If that wasn't a great enough deal, on Superbowl Sunday every 45 seconds from  9 AM to 9 PM, if you order online at Papa Johns your pizza could be FREE!

If you already have some great dips planned and pizza isn't on your menu, just sign up on Papa John's. IF the Superbowl goes in to overtime, you get a free pizza. Now, the Superbowl has never gone in to overtime before. BUT who is to say that this year isn't the year? Check out their website and maybe you can get a free pizza!!

*This post has not been sponsored by Papa John's, I just thought it was a great deal to share!

Food Friday: Taco Soup

Need a good dip for the upcoming big game? Here's a yummy easy dip that is sure to be a hit.

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef, browned and drained
Velveeta Cheese, 1/2 of the cube
1 can of rotel
1 half pint of half and half
1/2 of a white onion, chopped

Dump all of the items into the crock pot and set on low for about 4-5 hours. Spray the crock pot first so it doesn't stick to the inside.

Serve in bowls with chips.

Toy Thursday: Ball Games Afoot!

Three Balls

Here's a ball! (make ball with thumb and index finger )
And here's a ball! (make ball with other thumb and index)
A great big ball, I see! (put arms up and touch fingers)

Shall we count them?
Are you ready?
One, Two, Three (make all three balls in succession)

Judah loves balls! He likes balls so much that we got him some vinyl balls for Christmas. Grandma even got him another set of sports balls. You have to be careful in our house for fear of tripping over a ball.

Often we think up of indoor "ball" games that we can play during the coldest of winter days. We roll them as hot potatoes, spin them into circles, watch them slide down the stairs, dribble them, and much more. The vinyl balls even squeak, rattle, and squish to music. And I always have a small ball in my diaper bag for the road.

Balls are one of those universal toys that you can do just about anything with.

Recently, we got the laundry baskets out to play some "basketball." We roll them or throw them into the basket to score points. Another fun activity is to bowl. We have little animals bowling pins that we set up and knock them down with the balls. You can use stacking cups from your cupboard if you do not have bowling pins. Sometimes, we play fetch with the cat with a ball that lights up. Other times we watch the bouncy balls go very high. We talk about the different textures and colors of our balls and what they are used for.

To find some fun, colorful, washable, and reasonably priced balls, visit Lakeshore Preschool.

Wash Wednesday: My Dishwasher Can Do What?

Yesterday I happened to catch a segment on Rachel Ray about what can go in the dishwasher. Trust me, I wasn't really watching it as my kids were driving me CRAZY (and I had to keep reminding myself that I had to be thankful to have my boys) so I only caught bits and pieces. But when I looked up the link I was impressed.

The link above has some great ideas of what can go into the dishwasher. The part that interested me was the bath toys. Turns out, they're not as clean as you think. And for the small parts and pieces, put them in a lingerie bag and they'll keep all of their swords while getting clean!

To quote the show: "Plastic toys: To clean your kid's action figures or bath toys, toss them in lingerie bags to keep the pieces together and put them in the dishwasher. "I do want to say something about bath toys. A lot of people think, 'Oh, if the kid is in the bath with the soap and water it’s going to keep them clean,' but the bacteria on your child’s body gets in the bath water, and often bath toys are the most dangerously dirty objects you can have in your house."

Ew. Guess I'll be loading my dishwasher full of Spongebob, Aquaman and GI Joe to give them a good cleaning tonight!!

Tip Tuesday: Eating Out!

We were gone again this last weekend to visit family. When we do go north it seems like we eat out at a lot of restaurants. On certain occasions, eating out seems like a chore with a toddler... Wipe down the high chair, wipe our hands, stick the place mat down, get out the Sippy cup, and dig out the fork and spoon. No wonder my purse/diaper bag is heavy! To say the least though, having these items allows easy dining without all the fuss.

Even though it seems like a chore to get seated at a restaurant, having the tools of the trade help make for a more smooth and enjoyable meal out with the family.

What do you need when you go out to eat in a public setting?

• Place mats - We like to use a disposable, adhesive place mat for the table since we still make a mess and eat off the table at times. You can also purchase chalk place mats for doodling and ones that can be taken home to wash.
  
• Cutlery - We always carry a spare fork and spoon since most places have very large utensils that are not conducive for kids' hands.
  
• Bib - Often times we have a plastic bib in our bag. For those times we do not, we use clips to tie on a napkin or washcloth. You can also tie each end of a shoelace to mini binder clips with a napkin for a bib as well. These tuck well in your bag.
• Cup - Most times we bring along a cup from home just in case the establishment does not have sealed cups. Also, we store straws in our bag for those just in case times.
• Wipes - We use sanitizer wipes to clean down the high chair as most places do not clean them between uses. Then we use baby wipes to wash our hands, eliminating germs.
• Travel High Chair - Keep a travel booster seat in your trunk for those places you may need to use it when others are being used or smaller kids need them.
  

Other tools of the trade that come in handy at times include the following:

• Disposable pads to change diapers on.
• Small, durable, and washable toys for play during long waits.
• Hand sanitizer for mom's hands.
• Snack to help pass the time.
• Disposable bags for dirty diapers, clothes, or toys.
• Extra change of clothes for spills.
  

So the next time you go into a restaurant, lessen the out-to-eat mayhem by adding these items to your bag! And enjoy your meal for a change!

Make Monday: Magic Mud Part II!

We made Magic Mud this morning! Did you? How did it go? We had lots of fun making a gooey mess with our hands, picking it up and letting it run between our fingers. The blue stuff felt funny and hard but then it would drip like water. We added some shapes to let the slime fall from our hands.

Judah played for about 30 minutes with his blue concoction. Sitting in his high chair, clean up was minimal. The food coloring did stain our hands but not the tray or the carpet (that it fell on). We were able to wipe with soap and water right away and sweep up any dried, blue flakes that may have fallen to the floor. And it is a good thing it was safe since Judah even tasted the odd texture. What fun this morning!

If you have not already, try making your own Magic Mud.

Make Monday: Magic Mud!

When I was in high school, I put together a short book of "Homemade Fun" activities for 4-H Fair. Being a project for Child Development, I had four younger siblings in which to practice and experiment on. These cold days indoors, I am glad I took the time then to find these homemade recipes. I can simply open up my notebook and find one for the worst of winter days. Join me this Monday for such a day!

Today, we are going to make Magic Mud, a silly putty-type substance the kids can play with in their hands!

While your kids are seating themselves at the vinyl table cloth, covered table, you can mix up this easy homemade fun in minutes. It is safe, easy, and lots of fun for all!

Mix Together 5 tablespoons of cornstarch to 3 tablespoons of water. Add your desired color of food coloring. The substance will look hard but when you pick it up it will run through your hands. To make slime, use green food coloring! This recipe is recommended for children over 1 year of age.

Find some fun containers to play with. I highly recommend a plastic table cloth and an (a) apron/bib for the younger kids even though it is washable. Be careful though of using food coloring that will stain. For small kids, you can just put them in their high chair. It certainly makes a gooey mess but the fun is totally worth it!

Hope you survive your Monday inside this winter day!

Salvation Sunday: Saving Yourself From Cabin Fever

It's cold. The kids are going crazy. Everyone has cabin fever. It's times like these that you get stressed. But you can turn it around.

Be sure to be thankful to God that you have a cabin to get "fever" in.

Be thankful you have a warm home in these below zero temps.

Be thankful you have electricity to heat your food, gas to heat your water and home and fuel to power your vehicles. 

Be thankful.

So when you can't take another minute of the kids screaming, taking their diaper off and running around the house, be thankful. It's warm enough in your home for them TO take their diaper off. They aren't worrying about what they're going to eat, they're having fun playing.

And if you pause, just for a moment and think of it this way, it doesn't seem so bad.

Shuffle Saturday: Helping With School Projects? How Much Is Too Much?

My preschooler, Liam, was given Mr. Monkey for the week. We were asked to take Mr. Monkey on adventures, take pictures of the adventures and write in the journal about what Mr. Monkey did and who he saw.

The previous kids who had the journal took Mr. Monkey to their new playroom and had a tea party. I knew Mr. Monkey would have more of an adventure with us. I've always been competitive, even on things that aren't a competition. With all of the volunteering I've been doing to save the barn, I knew Mr. Monkey would get a few unique opportunities. Sure enough, I was asked to go to the WHO Radio studios to talk about the Barn effort. I took Liam and Mr. Monkey and got a few cute pictures.

I've also considered taking Liam and Mr. Monkey to the State Capitol to visit some of my friends and get some cute pictures. And then I wondered, am I turning this into my own project? Am I really doing this for Liam? Yes. But I'm also, as my dad said, "Name dropping--but not name dropping, with the monkey."

Granted, I probably would have brought Liam with me anyway, because how often can a five year old say he's been inside two radio stations in two weeks? These will be great for his scrapbook and he can look back and say, "Wow. I got to do a lot of cool stuff with mom."

And then I wonder, "how much is too much?" When does this stop being about Liam and the monkey and start being about me. I despise the stage moms on "Toddlers and Tiaras" and do NOT want to become one of them. I suppose when Liam says he "doesn't want to do it" anymore, I'll stop taking him.

So I ask, how much is too much? Where is the line on learning?

Food Friday: Sloppy Joes or Sloppy Jacks?

What guy is not a meat lover! For any meal, especially a party, my husband asks for meat! In fact a meal at our house is not complete without meat. Therefore to complete our Super Bowl table of snacks and appetizers, we must include some meat!

One dish we like to make at our house for company is Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Jacks (a name and recipe my mom invented). This way people can have sandwiches to go with all the other sides. It is also easy to make for large amounts of company.

These recipes are easy for your husband to make and satisfies their need for meat during the football game.

Brown ground beef on the stove with chopped onion. You will need approximately one pound of ground beef for every four people. While the meat is cooking, get out two crock pots and set them up to cook.

Once the meat is done, divide it between the two crock pots evenly as one will house the Sloppy Joes and the other the Sloppy Jacks. For the Sloppy Joes, I combine my mothers and my mother-in-laws ingredients of ketchup, a little mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix to taste, so all ingredients have been stirred in well. For Sloppy Jacks, use a can of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup and a can of mushrooms, enough to mix with the amount of meat you have.

Cook in the crock pot on low for several hours before your company comes, occasionally stirring. Serve on sandwich buns. Add your other sides for a complete Super Bowl buffet!

Toy Thursday: No! That's Your Brother's Toy!

Having three boys under the age of 6 is fun. It's even more fun that my youngest two are only 15 months apart. My middle child LOVES to go after his big brother's toys and baby brother's toys. It's hard to keep the small parts out of the babies reach and the big boys from taking the baby's toys away.


We bought a jumparoo when our first child was about 6 months old. It was the BEST $70 we've ever spent. Our oldest LOVED it. He would wake up at 4am and wouldn't be content until we took him out into the living room and let him jump himself to sleep.

Our middle child was rough with the jumparoo. He would get it swinging back and forth and back and forth, almost knocking it over. At about nine months, the jumparoo was put away.

Then came baby number three. He LOVES the jumparoo. But middle brother must remember how much fun it can be. He tries to climb into it himself (who am I kidding with "tries", he does) and can't get out. Safely, that is.

My oldest understand which toys are his, which ones are middle brothers and which ones belong to baby. Middle brother is "getting there". I have a feeling there will be many more fights over toys in our house...but the toys will probably be bigger ticket items, like cars.

Pass the Tylenol. I'm not ready for that headache yet.

Wash Wednesday: Removing Baby Poo From Clothes

It's inevitable. Baby's have "blow outs". Thankfully, breast fed poo is easier to clean than formula fed poo. My second child DESTROYED the family (white) baptismal gown during his baptism. Thankfully, my mom is the master of stains.

A tip for breastfed baby accidents is to rinse it in cold water and set it out in the sun. Since all of the output is natural (no processed formula), the sun works as the best "bleach" you can imagine. The once yellow gown is white again.

If you find your baby is having more and more accidents, it  might be time to go up a size in diapers. Quite often I find that even if my baby isn't in the weight "range" on the package, a bigger size works better for keeping all of the poo in.

Always soak the clothes in cold water before washing...and wash in cold. This will help keep the colors on the outfit from fading while getting the stain out. Also, after you've allowed it to soak, try using a pre-treater, like spray-n-wash or 409. I've also found that adding oxi-clean to the wash load helps to get out numerous stains.




I wish you luck in your clothing adventures. May all of your whites be white and your loads be light.

Tip Tuesday: Teeth or Cold?

Judah has been teething again. It has been months since the last time he got any teeth. He occasionally wakes up from time to time during the night complaining about his teeth.

Being up at night brings back memories of last year at this time. For four months we were up during the night with ear infections. Right before we got tubes in his ears last February, we were up at least seven times a night. Needless to say, we were up all night and slept during most days. Thankfully tubes brought immediate relief to our weariness.

Symptoms of ear infections are hard to diagnose and so often are similar in nature to teething: fussiness, irritability, excessive chewing, fever, runny nose, and the list goes on. Kids wake up during the night because laying on their sore ears makes them uncomfortable. Likewise, teething can also wake up a child who might experience some discomfort from pain. So how do you tell them apart?

The key to tell the difference between teething and ear infections (or colds) is determining the effectiveness of regular pain medicine.

Our pediatrician taught us this valuable tip during those months of little sleep that we still use to this day. For teething, you should be able to give the correct dose of Tylenol for your child and it will help ease the pain all night long, allowing them to sleep soundly. For ear infections, your child will still wake up in time for the next dose a few hours later.

This has been the best way for us to tell if Judah is teething or simply has a cold even when all symptoms seem the same. So often you are too tired to clearly explain the extra fussiness of your child. Try this yourself (with doctors permission for Tylenol) and if your child is still needing the Tylenol every few hours, then most likely you need to make a trip to the doctor.

From one mom to another, hope you find some rest soon!

Make Monday: Make It A Learning Opportunity

Learning opportunities are everywhere. My preschooler helps me with my coupons (if it is 40 cents off of two, how much is saved on one item?), my toddler counts items for me and points out animals and fruits.

Last week I mentioned "Making a Difference" with the "Save the Barn" project I've been working on. We were blessed with a unique experience to visit a radio station to talk about the cause. I decided to load the whole family up so Liam could see a "real life" radio station and see how it works. Sean (my 20 month old) and Brendan (6 months) didn't understand but Liam was very excited. Before hand, we listened to the radio, talked about how people could tune in to the station in their home, car or office and he "helped" me get my notes and talking points in order.

When we arrived at the station, he was interested in the headphones and microphone. Ed Fallon, host of the radio show, allowed Liam to put the headphones on and talk into the microphone (at a commercial, of course).

Liam knew why we were there "Because we have to save the barn!" and thought it was neat that mommy was on the radio.

You can turn any thing into a learning opportunity....and a cute photo op for their scrapbook.

Salvation Sunday: Making time for yourself!

Moms everywhere are going a mile a minute. Chauffeur, cook, clean, career, you do it all! You balance kids, home, work, and much, much more all the time that too often you have little if not any time for yourself. You probably even have to lock yourself in the bathroom just to read this. Am I right?

Last weekend, I took my first weekend away from home since Judah was born. Every minute spent at the cabin with friends scrapbooking was definitely worth the wait. And it was worth the hassle of making sure Tim and Judah were ready to survive without mom for a weekend. Finally, I was making time for myself and getting away to do it. It had been too long though without a break.

How can we take care of others when we do not even take care of ourselves?

So often my day is crammed with things back to back. Among them, I try to squeeze a few minutes for my Bible reading. When I reach that point though, usually I had been going so fast that my mind just keeps wondering about to do lists or something I would rather do. I feel guilty when finally I put down my Bible and instead pick up a fun book to read.

If we cannot take care of ourselves, how can we expect to take care of our relationship with God? I find that if I just take a few minutes for myself first to settle down, quiet my heart and mind, and do something fun that I am much more prepared emotionally to focus on God when I do get to read the Bible. Suddenly, spending time with God no longer becomes a chore like everything else in life but rather a special time I look forward to.

Psalm 46:10a says, "Be still and know that I am God." It does not say, hurry up and squeeze me in today just so that you can check it off your list. Our spiritual lives are so reliant on our emotional state and physical health, that if one is out of balance, often our spiritual lives suffer as well. 1 Corinthians 6:12 - 20 talks about caring for our bodies as the "temple of the Holy Spirit." I am sure that Christ does not want to live in a temple that is full of chaos and worry over chaos. And I am sure Christ does not enjoy living in a temple that has not been emotionally cared for and talents cultivated. It would be like coming home from work and giving God the leftovers.

Just like I came home refreshed and better to serve my son's needs last weekend, likewise we are more refreshed, cheerful, and emotionally sound to spend time with God after caring for ourselves.

Join me in trying to take care of yourself and doing a better job of it. I know it is easier said than done, but I was reminded last weekend how much it was needed. Our heart, mind, and soul will be all the better for God because of it.

Shuffle Saturday: Homemade Baked Potato Skins

Continuing the theme of "Serve for the Big Game", here's a homemade baked potato skins that are sure to score. Okay, enough with the corny puns.

Ingredients

• 6 small to medium sized russet baking potatoes (total 3 pounds)
• Olive oil
• Canola oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 6 strips of bacon (or use packaged cooked and crumbled bacon bits)
• 4 ounces grated cheddar cheese (or packaged shredded cheddar cheese)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced, including the greens of the onions

Method

1 Scrub the potatoes clean then bake the potatoes using your favorite method, either oven or microwave. If using an oven, rub with olive oil and bake in a 400°F oven for about an hour until the potatoes are cooked through and give a little when pressed. If using a microwave, rub all over with olive oil and cook on the high setting for about 5 minutes per potato. I have found that baking the potatoes in a conventional oven yields potatoes that are easier to work with (cut and scoop out), the potato seems to adhere to the skins a little better, but there is hardly a discernible difference in the final product.

2 While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon strips in a frying pan on medium low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Let cool. Crumble. (You can skip this step if you are using packaged bacon crumbles.)

3 Remove the potatoes from the oven and let cool enough to handle. Cut in half horizontally. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out the insides, reserving the scooped potatoes for another use, leaving about 1/4 of an inch of potato on the skin.(I like to use the potatoes for mashed potatoes for dinner the next night.)
Increase the heat of the oven to 450°F. Brush or rub canola oil (or another high smoke point oil) all over the potato skins, outside and in. Sprinkle with salt. Place on a baking rack in a roasting pan (don't use a cookie sheet, it will warp, use a roasting pan or broiler pan that can take the heat). Cook for 10 minutes on one side, then flip the skins over and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool enough to handle.

4 Arrange the potato skins skin-side down on the roasting pan or rack. Sprinkle the insides with freshly ground black pepper, cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Return to the oven. Broil for an additional 2 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven. Use tongs to place skins on a serving plate. Add a dollop of sour cream to each skin, sprinkle with green onions.
Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.

Note: If you have a potato whose skin or flesh has turned green, cut out those parts, do not use them. The green indicates the presence of a toxin that develops when potatoes are exposed to sunlight.

Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes

Food Friday: Cocoa Brownies!

Don't get me wrong, I love salty snacks, especially chips and dip. Most often you will see me going straight for the salty snacks over the sweets as cheese is my absolute favorite food. With all those salty snacks we are making for the Super Bowl though, you need a little chocolate, just enough for a sweet taste.

Normally, I am not a huge brownie person, probably because most brownies are made from a box.

But when my friend and cousin (by marriage) gave me this recipe, I knew it had to be good as most of her stuff is. And sure enough it was the best brownie recipe ever invented. My husband is so thankful to her because now I make brownies, one of his favorite desserts, and it is surprisingly so easy from scratch. By the time you figure out the box mix, you can whip up some of these. Serve warm with a little French vanilla ice cream and chocolate or Carmel syrup on top and you are good to go!

Mix
1 2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons water
2 large eggs beaten
2 teaspoon vanilla

Add
1 1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Bake in 9 by 13 inch greased pan at 350 degrees. Top with powdered sugar. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Toy Thursday: Indoor Sandbox!

If you were like us this week, you got cabin fever. Wind chills to already frigid temperatures kept us indoors several days this week, afraid to venture out in the snow and cold. So we had to get creative!

I thought we could play indoor sandbox, without the sand of course.

I did take an old used tin container and filled it with instant rice, dried lentils, navy beans, and some macaroni. Then I scavenged the garage for Judah's toy shovel and some cups and shapes. I put a vinyl tablecloth down on the living room carpet and we scooped and shoveled until our heart's content. We even ate some and then stuck our feet in to feel the funny textures and shapes. Needless to say, we survived cabin fever for one more day.

I learned a couple of things throughout this adventure. Even though the rules were to stay on the tablecloth, expect to vacuum the floor anyways. I knew this going in and had planned to vacuum my already dirty floor. Next, consider using instant rice only for small children who tend to put things in their mouth. For older children, think about using bird seed so all you have to do for clean up is shake the tablecloth outside. I used the items that I did because that is what I had in the pantry.

Try the indoor sandbox. Explore different textures and shapes of items. Practice scooping and shoveling. Feel with your hands and toes. And if your brave, maybe hide some small items to find or add water for a different feel. At any rate, it will take the mundane out of being cooped up indoors.

Wash Wednesday: KNOW Your Water Heater

It's January. It's cold. We were just hit with quite a snowstorm. I got up in the morning, looked outside and saw the wind blowing the snow all around. I was excited to get into the hot shower. What a wonderful way to wake up. Plus, I could use my cinnamon roll body scrub that smells SO good!

I turn on the shower and get ready to get in. It was cold. Hmmm. Must take a second to warm up because it is so cold outside. I hop in, thinking it should be warmer. It was frigid. I get out, cold, dripping wet and angry. I throw on my robe and walk down the hall to the utility closet, getting a strange look from my husband. I tear open the doors to the closet, get down on the floor, pull the protective cover from the water heater and look inside the little window. It wasn't until then my husband asked, "What in the world are you doing?"

"The pilot light is out," I replied. My husband responded, "Who do we need to call?" I laughed. I had already started the process of relighting the pilot light.

It's not just a job for the guys. We ladies need to know how things work around the house. Be sure to read ALL of the instructions before working with electric or gas--but there are things you can fix yourself. I'm not sure why it went out, but I knew how to fix it. I let the water warm up and got to take a hot shower. If I had waited for someone to come and do it for us, I would have had to do the preschool drop off wearing a hat and perfume. And who knows how much it would cost for a home call.

Learn about the functions of items around your home. You can do quite a bit yourself. Save money, save sanity, save your family.

Tip Tuesday: Spiced up!

After Christmas, my sister-in-law and I ventured out to the stores to see the after Christmas sales. One of our stops was at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, which you cannot go wrong in any home store. We were walking around the store to kill time while our husbands were in Best Buy next door. We stopped in the kitchen section only for my sister-in-law declare that she needed to get new spice containers. Looking at the spice racks, we discovered a hard choice between inconveniently bulky racks and expensive sets.

Spices are so hard to organize in your kitchen.

Most often they take up space on the counter, in the cupboard, or in a drawer that is so full you cannot even open it. And since they are not accessible, you are less likely to use them and instead just keep buying new ones. Other times, the spice rack has to be organized such a way you cannot even see the labels. Been there, right?

As I told my sister-in-law, I store my spices on the refrigerator in special spice, magnet containers. Labeled, I have the spices on the side (out of the way of the door) of the fridge next to the stove for an easy find to use. If I want to throw some basil or oregano in a dish, I can access it on the fridge, turning the lid to shake it out of the container and closing it, put it back onto the fridge. That simple!

I have also picked up some similar crafting containers to hold other household items such as loose change, toothpicks, and corn on the cob holders on the fridge. Upstairs I have white ones on a white magnet board that hold rubber bands, paper clips, and push pins next to our desk on the wall in our office. I like these so much that I even have some stuck to a magnet bar in my craft closet for buttons and brads.

My spices on the fridge are probably the first thing commented on in my house when someone walks through the door and gets a drink of water. It sure makes for great conversation but even more keeps me organized leaving free space in my cupboards and better tasty dishes all spiced up.

So while you are cooped up indoors this week due to the snow, take a few minutes to go through your own spices. Throw away old spices and refill favorite ones. I also challenge you to start experimenting with your spices and herbs.

In the past I have found these containers at Target, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, The Container Store, and Ikea, usually in the kitchen section. Just make sure you have the right kind for your intended purpose.

Make Monday: Making a Difference in Your Child's Life--Action Item

Okay fellow Moms...here's your action item. I'm not talking about the usual mom "action items", but one to preserve something for your child's future.

In West Des Moines, a barn stands, in the middle of the city, a beautiful reminder of our agrarian past.

And yet, the West Des Moines school board is intent on tearing it down. Why? For green space or a discus range. Yes, you read that right. They want to tear down a perfectly good, solid structure for no reason other than, what I'm sure, doesn't fit with the "McMansion-ville" that West Des Moines is turning in to.

Moms, listen up. We HAVE to preserve this barn. Our children deserve to see this great structure. Our children deserve to learn about Iowa's rich history. Our children deserve this.

Join the facebook group, sign the petition  and attend the school board meeting tonight at 7:00 P.M. to let the school board know that your children deserve to keep this piece of history.

Actions that you take now can change your child's future. Do this for your children. Make a difference.

Salvation Sunday: Understanding Chaos

I was going to write about the second chances we receive, like those of Ted Williams and his golden voice, but the shooting in Arizona made me rethink it all.

It made me think about all of the evil that is in the world. All of the chaos. No matter what side of the aisle you choose to sit, a life is a life.

I feel and pray for all of the victims and their families. My heart sunk when I read that one of the random victims, Christina Taylor Greene (aged 9), recently elected to student council, was a "Faces of Hope, Babies Born on 9/11" baby. Born on 9/11 only to be killed in senseless violence.

We need to pray for those who died, their families, and for those who are fighting for their lives. We also need to pray for the troubled man who did this. No one knows why he felt it was necessary to do it, but it is done.

We need to pray for our Country. We need to pray.

Maybe we're not meant to understand the chaos, but pull through it, putting our faith in God.

Shuffle Saturday: A Day without Mommy!

Since I am gone for the weekend, I thought my husband Tim could write about his experience without mommy. I put it on his to do list and here is what he came up with in his own words.

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It has been a bachelor pad here at our house since Emma left for her weekend away yesterday evening. Here is the flavor of how we are surviving.


Friday

5:00 pm
Emma pulls out of the driveway. Judah is expressing his displeasure that momma is leaving and he can't "Go-go" with her.

5:01 pm
Judah looks at me. I look at Judah. Judah says, "Momma? Uh-oh." I agree.

5:35 pm
Dinner time. I try to get Judah to sit in his high chair to eat dinner with me. Judah screams and dumps his milk all over his tray.

5:45 pm
Judah asks for crackers. I try to get him to eat some of the food I am eating. Judah eats crackers.

6:00 pm
Dinner hasn't gone well. Judah decides he wants to watch "Babies and Animals," what he calls his kids videos. He also asks for more crackers. Judah eats crackers while watching his "Babies and Animals" video in the living room. Finally, I can eat my supper. It's cold.

6:45 pm
Emma calls to let us know that she has made it safely. We miss momma.

7:00 pm
Judah grabs my phone and sees Emma's picture on my home screen. Judah hugs the phone. No hug for me.

7:15 pm
Time for bed. We go through our routine and Judah lays down in his crib.

8:00 pm
Judah has been making some noises upstairs so I go to check it out. Turns out he was able to reach a giant stuffed elephant outside of his crib, and he is trying to pull it through the bars of the crib so he can sleep with it. I get it for him and he promptly goes back to sleep.

Saturday

3:15 am
I hear Judah crying so I go in to check it out. He has thrown all of his stuffed animals, including the elephant, out of the crib and reaches up for me. I pick him up and hold him for a few minutes. I try to put him back to bed but as soon as I reach over to set him down he screams again. What to do.

3:20 am
I rock with Judah in the rocking chair to calm him back to sleep. I try to get up from the rocking chair, but as soon as I move Judah starts to cry again and says, "Back! Back!" Hmm.

3:25 am
I decide that the only way I am going to get to go back to sleep is to take Judah back to sleep with me. He is wrapped tightly around my neck so I just lay down on my back with him attached to my chest. Ah, back to sleep.

5:30 am
Judah decides to wake up. I try to explain to him that it isn't morning yet, it isn't even light out. Judah disagrees.

6:00 am
Judah decides that he's been in bed long enough and gets down. I reluctantly follow suit.

6:05 am
Breakfast time. Judah finds his banana toy and chews on it. I assume that means he wants to eat a banana. I try to put him in his high chair. He screams at me.

6:07 am
I offer a truce by turning on "Babies and Animals" so he can watch it while he eats his real banana. We maintain a fragile peace.

9:00 am
After playing throughout the morning, I assume that since I am dead tired, Judah must be tired as well. I read him some books and put him down for a nap. He fusses but not more than out of the ordinary. I lay down and promptly fall asleep.

9:45 am
I awake to a very unhappy Judah in the other room. He apparently was not tired at all. This is greatly disappointing. We go back downstairs to play.

11:30 am
After a morning snack, Judah decides it would be really fun to pull the window seal plastic off of our window in our living room while I am fixing the crock pot chicken for dinner. I disagree and decide it is nap time.

2:30 pm
After a very successful naptime, we have an afternoon snack to make up for missing lunch. We get ready and go out to Bass Pro Shops to walk around and look at the fishies.

5:30 pm
Back from Bass Pro Shops. We sit down for dinner and I actually get Judah to eat something from each of the food groups. We celebrate after each bite with a cheer and a hand clap. Don't laugh at me, it gets him to actually eat stuff.

7:00 pm
Bed time! We made it! An entire day without mom! I am exhausted already thinking about trying to get through tomorrow.


Mommies do deserve a recess, and I'm glad that Emma gets a break this weekend. When she gets back we are going to discuss Daddy's Recess, because I am going to need to recapture my sanity! Hats off to all mothers for doing the hardest job in the world, and doing it so well. We love you Momma! Come home soon!

Food Friday: My FAMOUS Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

You've asked for it, so here it is. Continuing our theme of foods perfect for football, this is one. I always serve this at the Super Bowl, get togethers and (to be honest) almost every time Emma comes over. She LOVES it. It's really easy and so very good.

I've been making this for ten years already. I have it memorized and could probably make it in my sleep. So here goes:

1 cup of Mayo (NOT Miracle Whip, MAYO)
1 small package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 bag of shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (I can usually only find this from Kraft)
1 Tablespoon of Parmesan Cheese
1 teaspoon of garlic powder

Mix together all but 1/2 of the cheese bag. Hands work best to get all of the ingredients mixed. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes at 350. Serve with tostitos. Enjoy!

Toy Thursday: Some good Lyrics with that beat!

Do you remember when you brought your new born home and you were so tired that you made up your own music? It could be a guy thing. My husband and the best man from our wedding were totally comparing notes one night on impromptu lyrics sung to baby lullabies, maybe even a commercial jingle or two. Yikes, no sleep makes for some silly tunes.

So that is why when both my husband and my son really liked the family songs of the Woody Guthrie family, I got it for Christmas. We had already checked it out several times at the library, taking it in the car and dancing to it at home. Surprisingly, the practical, fun-filled lyrics with contemporary beat have not gotten annoying yet (unlike some toys).



Daddy-O Daddy! is our most favorite with its upbeat remake of Guthrie lyrics. You can do actions to songs about growing bigger. You can learn about the alphabet and numbers. And dance to fun songs that address children's issues about wetting the bed and not shoving each other.

For a much more calmer (but still fun) approach, you can experience Woody Guthrie in his original folklore setting, titled, Woody's 20 Grow Big Songs. Again you can go around a merry-go-round, ride in the car, and go to sleep.

Gotto go...we are jammin' to some music!

Wash Wednesday: Making Your Laundry Work for YOU!

Here in Iowa, we're fully into winter. It's cold. It's snowy. And it's dry in the house. Dry hands, dry legs and dry noses. In my house, dry noses = bloody noses. Ew.

But here's an easy way to get humidity into your house and save money! Invest in a drying rack. I LOVE my drying rack in the winter. I hang almost everything to dry (except towels, underwear, socks and by request, my husband's jeans). Jeans will feel "crunchy" if you let them air dry, so if you like soft jeans, dry them in the dryer.

I hang shirts on hangers while wet and hang them from anywhere I can find that will support them. Christmas stocking hangers (yes, I really do this), door knobs, shower bars etc. The nice thing is, once they're dry, I just hang them in the closet!

I love it when it is cold outside that my house is so warm that the windows fog over. The whole house smells like fresh laundry and it is warm and humid. Plus the occurrence of bloody noses drops! 

Have a warm and money saving winter!

Tip Tuesday: The Lost Art!

Dear Lucia,

Thank you very much for the delicious desserts over the Holidays. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity as well as your friendship. We enjoyed the desserts very much, even enjoying them with company.

Thanks again,

Rittgers Family

Anymore it seems like thank you notes are a lost art. What is even more rare are hand written thank you notes in this age of electronic communication. To sit down and express appreciation for a gift or an act seems almost intimidating.

Today's tip is to encourage us all to write a thank you note to someone.

Do not underestimate the effect of what a hand written thank you card can do. A personal thank you note can encourage a friend, letting them know that you appreciate them. A simple thank you card sent to a potential employer for interviewing puts your name on a noticeable, influential list. Expressing your appreciation to a service man/woman solidifies the meaning of their hard work and sacrifices. A thank you to your host after a baby shower in your honor is the proper gesture of appreciation.

So how do you write a thank you, you ask?

Timing.

Timing is everything. Try to send a thank you as quickly as possible. Generally, thank you notes are sent a week after the event or gift was received with the exception of wedding gifts and a someone who is in the hospital. Wedding gifts are usually sent within three months after the ceremony and for someone who is ill, thank you's are sent once they are well again.

Personalize.

Personalize your thank yous. You do not realize how unappreciative a form thank you can be until you receive it before the event or a gift is even opened.

Formality.

Write appropriately according to the type of event. An informal thank you is just fine unless you are thanking someone for wedding gifts. Never use a ripped piece of kitchen note pad paper (even if you are in a hurry).

Will I better go write some thank you notes, before it is too late for Christmas gifts. Will you join me?

Make Monday: Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

This "Make Monday" is a fun one that is tasty too! Our month of January "Makes" and "Food" will be focused on snacky type foods as I know many people are preparing for the NFL playoffs and the Superbowl! And with big football games comes big food!

A friend of mine said she was having this at New Years...and I had never heard of it. I found a recipe online and tweaked it a bit. My husband was weary of what would come of the recipe. It. Was. Delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional--I did not do this step)
• Graham Crackers (for serving)

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
2. Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. I put it in the freezer for 30 minutes and that worked just as well.
3. Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving.(Optional: I chose to skip this step as we don't like nuts). 
4. Serve with Graham Crackers

You could even shape it into a football, roll it in nuts if you like and use white chocolate chips for the laces of the ball. Remind your guests this isn't an appetizer ball but a dessert ball. 

 

 

It tastes like chocolate chip cookie dough....so yummy!

Salvation Sunday: Making God a Part of Your New Year's Resolution

Human beings love new beginnings, fresh starts, and a clean slate. The new year is a great time to set goals, clean out old stuff and start fresh.

Not only does this apply to house, home, family and life, but it applies to spirituality as well.

Thankfully God does that with us. We are blessed to have a God who was willing to give us His only Son to die for our sins.

God is forgiving, unlike your waist line after a holiday filled with sweets.

Make God a part of your New Years Resolutions.

Take time to connect with God, even only for a few minutes a day. 
Thank God for all of your blessings.
Find God in others.
Treat each other with kindness and thoughtfulness.
Pray.
Take time to do things in your Church that you've always said you would do.

Keep this resolution. You'll be thankful you did.

Happy New Year!

Take a few minutes on your break to start your New Year on the right foot with a prayer!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the year 2010, that we saw it through according to your mighty plan. Thank you for the fond memories and hard times as both draw us closer to you and make us stronger.

Looking back reminds us that you provide many blessings, taking care of us each step of the way. We have a roof over our head, have food on the table, and overall have good health. We have each other to cherish and most of all you to guide us through our sorrows and problems each and every day.

Thank you also for the year 2011. This new year represents new beginnings. We can learn from the mistakes we will make, knowing that you can wipe the slate clean with forgiveness. This means we can begin anew, allowing us to focus on relationships and rekindle old friendships that have fallen by the wayside.

May we make many new, fun memories with those we cherish and love. May we remember the poor in possession and spirit as we continue to receive your blessings. Draw us closer to you in our daily struggles and joys.

Thank you again for the New Year and that your time is perfect!

Emma Rittgers and Sarah Bowman